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Who's Who - Andrew Bonar Law

Andrew Bonar Law was the Canadian-born
son of a Scottish clergyman. He worked as a boy on his fathers
smallholding. At 12 he went to live with his late mother's cousins who
were rich Glaswegian merchant bankers in Scotland.

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He later worked in the
family bank, while attending university night classes which gave him an
interest in politics and debating. A t 27 he was making his fortune as an
iron merchant but did not live extravagantly, having simple tastes.

With an inheritance which gave him financial independence, Bonar Law entered
politics. In 1900 he was elected Conservative MP for Glasgow
Blackfriars. He had a reputation for honesty and fearlessness, and was
well regarded as an effective speaker.

These qualities promoted
him to Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Trade in 1902. He lost
his seat in the 1906 Liberal landslide General Election. But he
returned to represent Dulwich following a by-election later in the same
year. Though hit hard by the death of his wife, he continued his
political career, and won the Conservative party leadership in 1911 as a
compromise candidate.

At the outbreak of war he offered the government the support of the
Conservatives in the coalition government. Working closely with the
Liberals caused Law to admire
Lloyd George, to
such a degree that he even declined the premiership in favour of Lloyd
George's appointment.

He was given senior
positions in Lloyd George's new war cabinet. His promotion reflected
the great mutual trust between both leaders and made for a well co-ordinated
political partnership. Their coalition was re-elected by a landslide
following the
Armistice.

Law had lost his two eldest sons in the war and his health deteriorated.
To recover he resigned as Leader of the House and leader of his party.
At the time many leading Conservatives were so enthralled by Lloyd George
that they were considering leaving the Conservatives to join a new party
Lloyd George was planning.

Law made a decisive rousing
speech at the Conservative Carlton Club which changed their minds and saved
the Conservative party. Law persuaded the Conservatives to end the
coalition, and work as an independent party.

Conservative withdrawal
forced Lloyd George to resign. The King then invited Law to form a new
administration in 1922. Law's 'Tranquillity Manifesto' was an attempt
to allow Britain to recover from war damage.

Though elected, Law lasted
just 209 days in office. He resigned in May 1923 due to ill health,
and died of throat cancer 6 months later. Dubbed rather unkindly as
'the unknown Prime Minister', most of Law's work was done before his
premiership.

A popular but now
little-noted Prime Minister, Law's funeral service took place in Westminster
Abbey.